Cuomo sues harassment accuser for defamation

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Ex-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is suing Charlotte Bennett for defamation, alleging that her false accusations of sexual harassment damaged him personally and professionally. According to a summons with notice filed on December 19—which you can read at the bottom of this story—Cuomo wants compensatory and punitive damages, with interest.

Bennett's lawyer, Debra Katz, sent the following statement:

“This case has no merit. There is a long history of using defamation lawsuits to silence and punish accusers of sexual harassment. It is shameful that Mr. Cuomo has apparently now chosen to go down that path.”

A spokesperson for Cuomo said, "We’re going to let the suit speak for itself."

In 2021, Bennett publicly accused Cuomo of making inappropriate advances while she worked for him as an aide. The allegations became part of a broader investigation conducted by the Office of Attorney General Letitia James, yielding a report that found her accusations credible.

Cuomo denied all claims that he harassed women, calling the report biased and politically motivated.

In September 2022, Bennett sued Cuomo, repeating her claims and adding new details. According to Cuomo's filing in the New York Supreme Court, his legal team discovered text message and video evidence that they say disprove her accusations. These materials allegedly showed that Bennett sought out interactions with Cuomo because she had ulterior motives.

On December 9, Bennett voluntarily dismissed that lawsuit days before a scheduled deposition. According to Cuomo’s team, she feared that going to trial would reveal her deceit. But that same day, Bennett's attorney released a statement reaffirming claims of harassment and retaliation. She promised to continue a separate but related lawsuit seeking damages from the state of New York, who was her employer when she worked in Cuomo's office.

Cuomo's team argued that Bennett's statement on December 9 represents a deliberate effort to spread lies meant to hurt him. According to the filing, Bennett’s statement followed years of trying to get a settlement paid out from New York State.

According to Cuomo, Bennett played a major role in his resignation and damaged his reputation. Cuomo insists that she has no evidence and was dissatisfied at work. The lawsuit alleges that Bennett described her conversations with Cuomo as “amazing,” and was happy to receive a requested job transfer, despite later calling the transfer retaliatory.

If Bennett or her legal representation don't respond by mid-January, the court could enter a default judgment in Cuomo’s favor. You can read the notice below: